Crime in Whitley: statistics, rates and trends
1,578 crimes were recorded in Whitley in the 12 months to July 2026, 115.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 11% on the year before.
Table of Contents
1,578 crimes were recorded in Whitley in the 12 months to July 2026, 115.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 11% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 527 reports (33% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Whitley has the 902nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Whitley | Reading | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,578 | 20,512 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 115.3 | 112.1 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +11% | +6% | -1% |
| Population | 13,681 | 182,907 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Whitley was highest in the year to July 2026 (1,578 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (804). Over the whole period it rose 94%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 1,578 | 115.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,423 | 104.0 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,360 | 99.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,166 | 85.2 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 877 | 64.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 957 | 70.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 909 | 66.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 804 | 58.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 814 | 59.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 146 |
| June 2026 | 147 |
| May 2026 | 171 |
| April 2026 | 178 |
| March 2026 | 141 |
| February 2026 | 96 |
| January 2026 | 89 |
| December 2025 | 117 |
| November 2025 | 128 |
| October 2025 | 117 |
| September 2025 | 119 |
| August 2025 | 129 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Whitley over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for shoplifting, other theft, robbery.
The largest increases were in drugs (+130%) and other theft (+70%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-29%) and burglary (-28%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 527 | 38.5 | 1.13 | +29% |
| Shoplifting | 331 | 24.2 | 2.92 | -14% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 140 | 10.2 | 0.67 | +13% |
| Other theft | 134 | 9.8 | 1.53 | +70% |
| Public order | 104 | 7.6 | 1.14 | +20% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 94 | 6.9 | 1.01 | +18% |
| Vehicle crime | 58 | 4.2 | 0.86 | -26% |
| Drugs | 53 | 3.9 | 1.18 | +130% |
| Burglary | 41 | 3.0 | 0.85 | -28% |
| Robbery | 34 | 2.5 | 1.84 | +79% |
| Bicycle theft | 29 | 2.1 | 2.58 | -29% |
| Other crime | 22 | 1.6 | 0.76 | +0% |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.5 | 0.53 | -30% |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.3 | 0.17 | -56% |
Violence and sexual offences in Whitley
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Whitley recorded 527 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (38.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 33.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Whitley
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Whitley recorded 331 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (24.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 21.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Whitley
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Whitley recorded 140 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Whitley
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Whitley recorded 134 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 70% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Whitley
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Whitley recorded 104 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Whitley
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Whitley recorded 94 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Whitley
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Whitley recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Whitley
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Whitley recorded 53 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 130% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Whitley
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Whitley recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Whitley
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Whitley recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 79% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Whitley
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Whitley recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Whitley
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Whitley recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Whitley
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Whitley recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Whitley
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Whitley recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 56% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Whitley, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Whitley.
Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Whitley over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 278 |
| On or near Supermarket | 172 |
| On or near Shooters Way | 143 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 76 |
| On or near Chagford Road | 43 |
| On or near Fair Isle Way | 33 |
| On or near Sunapee Road | 32 |
| On or near Midgham Way | 30 |
| On or near Ambrook Road | 25 |
| On or near A33 | 24 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Whitley over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 518 | 32.8% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 427 | 27.1% |
| Under investigation | 212 | 13.4% |
| Not recorded | 140 | 8.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 74 | 4.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 58 | 3.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 51 | 3.2% |
| Local resolution | 51 | 3.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 21 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 14 | 0.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 11 | 0.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Whitley has an estimated population of 13,681. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Whitley sits in decile 4.2, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Whitley |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 68.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 49.9% |
| Social rented homes | 24.9% |
| Private rented homes | 24.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.2 |
Is Whitley a safe place to live?
Whitley recorded 115.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Whitley?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 527 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (331).
Is crime in Whitley going up or down?
Recorded crime in Whitley was up 11% on the year before: 1,578 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,423 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Whitley?
Whitley is policed by Thames Valley. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Whitley. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.